Events not to be missed in early 2009

  January 20 – February 1 : Chinese New Year, Hong Hong

This year the Chinese New Year Parade promises to be the most extravagant party of the year and where better to celebrate the New Year than the Wan Chai Harbourfront in Hong Kong. Intricately adorned floats, street entertainers and beautiful flower markets take over the harbour and city streets while thousands of glittering lights cover the buildings like blankets.

On New Year’s Day (January 26) there’s a magnificent Night Parade sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways which mesmerises audiences with its pageant of performers in flamboyant costumes, marching bands and colourful floats. The fireworks over the Victoria Harbour mark the end of the parade and the beginning of a new year – the Year of the Ox.

Getting there: Hong Kong is a popular destination especially during the Chinese New Year and many airlines fly there on a daily basis. Air New Zealand, British Airways and Cathay Pacific all have direct flights from the UK.

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February 4 - February 8: Polarjazz, Norway 

We often associate jazz festivals with a warm and sultry destination like New Orleans or St Lucia, but Norway? That’s right, every year the most northerly jazz festival takes place in Longyearbyen which is located south of the North Pole in Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago.

The best jazz musicians travel from all over Norway to perform to a fairly small audience of around 1,000 surrounded by the dark, hypnotic Arctic night. During the day visitors can take advantage of the winter activities that the area has to offer including snowmobile tours and polar bear watching. Also during this time rock bands play gigs at bars and musicians rehearse for the Dark Season Blues festival that occurs every October.

Getting there: The easiest way to reach Svalbard Airport is with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). The airline has daily connecting flights through Tromso or Oslo.

Search and compare: cheap flights to Norway.

 

February 9: Thaipusam, Kuala Lumpur

The religious Hindu festival, Thaipusam, takes place every year on the tenth day of the month in the Hindu Almanac. The three-day event in Kuala Lumpur draws around one million people from all walks of life to pay homage to Lord Murugan. The Hindus believe that this highly revered deity represents virtue, youth and power and is the destroyer of evil. Followers show their devotion in many different ways, from carrying pots of milk on their heads to tongue and cheek piercings.

Since 1888 the festival has taken place at the sacred Hindu shrine, the Batu Caves. A silver chariot procession bearing Lord Murugan's image precedes the festival in the early morning, before the sun rises. Thousands watch as the chariot makes its nine mile journey from Sri Mahamariaman temple in downtown Kuala Lumpur to the Batu Caves.

Getting there: There are regular direct flights from the UK to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines. Alternatively, take a connecting flight via Dubai on Emirates or via Abu Dhabi with Etihad.

Search and compare: cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur.

 

February 20 - February 22: Devil's Carnival “La Diablada”, Bolivia

“La Diablada” is a carnival that takes place every year in the city of Oruro in Central Bolivia. Oruro is predominantly a mining town and in the past the rituals performed were sacrifices for the devil to ensure their safety in the mines. Today the festival is not centred around the devil but more about worshipping the Mining Goddess – “Virgen del Sovacan” and “Pachamama” or Mother Earth. The costumes are elaborate, eccentric and highly entertaining. People dressed as demons, witch doctors, llama herders, and animals all participate in the parade with over 50 dance groups. The carnival draws to an end with the ceremony of “Ch'alla” when liquid is poured onto the ground as a symbol of giving back to Mother Nature.

Getting there: Located southeast of La Paz, Oruro is easily accessible. British Airways, American Airlines and Continental Airlines all offer connecting flights from the UK to La Paz. Once there you can take a three hour trip by bus or train to Oruro.

Search and compare: cheap flights to Bolivia.

 

March 15 - March 19: Las Fallas Fiesta, Spain

Every March around two million people attend Valencia’s biggest festival, Las Fallas. For one week the city lights up with fireworks and rockets. But the real highlight of the festival is the ninots or large paper maché statues depicting politicians and celebrities. And on the last day of the celebrations the ninots are stuffed with fireworks and set ablaze; one statue is always left untouched and is taken to the Valencian museum for safe keeping.

Getting there: Iberia offers a direct flight from the UK to Valencia. Air France, Lufthansa and bmi offer daily connecting flights.

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March 20 - March 29: Spring Equinox at Chichen Itza, Mexico

During the spring equinox the 1,500 year old Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza become even more enigmatic than usual. At exactly 1.31pm on March 20 the sun casts its rays on the pyramid and a shadow appears in the form of a slithering serpent that slowly moves towards the well of sacrifice. Each year people from all over the world come to Chichen Itza, in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, to observe what some may regard a sacred observance and others, a natural phenomenon.

Getting there: The easiest way to get to Chichen Itza is by taking a connecting flight to Cancun on Continental, Iberia or Virgin Atlantic then driving or taking a two hour bus ride to Chichen Itza.

Search and compare: cheap flights to Cancun.

 

© Cheapflights Ltd Seema Salaam